AP's services, of course, don't come cheap. And the cable news
channel has been falling in the ratings, but it took
back its No. 2 spot based on 2009's numbers.

"CNN has made a conscious effort in the last few years to reduce
our reliance on outside wire services," CNN representative
Christa Robinson
told the Washington Examiner. "Currently CNN.com
does not use stories or images from the AP." The network
offers its own external service to other news outlets, as well.

The AP ban could become permanent if the network can keep up with
the increased amount of work.